Gym Goers Praise Jesus At Health Club

COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Instead of ogling hard bodies, these gym goers praise Jesus. NBC4's Kelly Mack reported on this alternative gym in Costa Mesa.

Following is a verbatim script from the on-air report.

KELLY MACK: A woman runs on a treadmill to the beat of the music in her headphones, all the while singing along.

A man strains and sweats as he presses weights with the strength of his legs.

It looks like a typical gym, except for the banners that cover the walls. No posters of rock-hard bodies here, instead there is scripture.

GIL YURLY, OWNER/HOLY SPIRIT GYM: I wanted to create an uplifting, faith filled, wholesome environment to get fit.

MACK: Gil Yurly has been in the fitness business for more than 20 years and has won several bodybuilding titles along the way. He has spent a lot of time in gyms.

When he opened his own recently in Costa Mesa, however, he wanted something different.

YURLY: The typical large chain environment is, to be blunt, a meat market, with bad music, scantily clad people running around. So it's not a real wholesome positive environment to get fit. I just wanted to provide an alternative.

MACK: Gil's creation is the Holy Spirit Gym on 18th Street, just off busy Newport Boulevard in Costa Mesa. Working out here you'll listen not to top-40 or hip-hop music. No, it's Christian rock. And among his posted ten commandments is modest attire.

HEIDI SCHULTZ, GYM MEMBER: I went in and said, check this out. It's got all scripture all along the walls. They play the fish, Christian music. So now if I'm in here and I'm running or whatever and I blurt out, 'God is good enough for me!' Because I sing when I run it's not a big deal around here!

MACK: And no matter what the faith of the gym members, the Bible scripture on the walls apparently inspires some to push their bodies harder.

DINO SAINATO, GYM MEMBER: A lot of times if I'm feeling , 'Oh, I can't do another set or a couple more pounds', I read one of the banners and it will motivate me to continue.

MACK: The Holy Spirit Gym is also part of the Silver Sneakers program where senior citizens insured by the HMO Secure Horizons can work out at no cost.

But do you have to be born again to bench press in this gym? We're assured there is no proselytizing here.

YURLY: We don't do any of that. It's just a nice atmosphere to work out in. Everybody's welcome.

For more information, go to www.holyspiritgym.com or call 949-645-6110.